Rulers
April 2025
1
Djibouti: Abdoulkader Houssein Omar is appointed foreign minister.
Germany: The minister-president of Niedersachsen, Stephan Weil, announces his resignation. He is to be succeeded on May 20 by Olaf Lies.
San Marino: Denise Bronzetti (Reformist Alliance) and Italo Righi (Christian Democrat) take office as captains-regent.
Switzerland: Martin Pfister takes office as defense minister.
United States: In mayoral primary elections in Omaha, incumbent Jean Stothert (Republican) wins 36.2% of the vote, John Ewing, Jr. (Democrat), 32.7%, Mike McDonnell (Rep.) 20.0%, and Jasmine L. Harris (Dem.) 10.3%. The runoff will be held on May 13.
2
Congo (Kinshasa): In the gubernatorial election in the provincial assembly of Kwilu, Philippe Akamituna Ndolo (Congolese National Congress) is elected with 28 votes, defeating Donald Sindani Kandambu (11), Steve Mabiku Kilumbu (5), and Rombeau Fumany Gymbadi (2). In Nord-Ubangi, Jean-Bosco Kotongo Anfio Bato (Sacred Union) is elected with 11 votes, defeating Marie-Claire Kengo Wa Dondo (7) and incumbent Malo Mobutu Ndimba (0).
Georgia: Badra Gunba is sworn in as president of Abkhazia. On April 3 he appoints Vladimir Delba as prime minister. On April 18 a cabinet is announced with Oleg Bartsits as foreign minister and Said Gubaz as finance minister.
Israel: Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich withdraws his resignation.
Laos: Former prime minister (1991-98), president of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (1992-2006), and president (1998-2006) Khamtay Siphandone dies.
3
Bulgaria: The government of Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov survives a no-confidence vote (rejected 150-54), and another on April 17 (rejected 130-72).
4
Australia: Former premier of Tasmania (1996-98) Tony Rundle dies.
Benin: Former foreign minister (1995-96) Edgar Yves Monnou dies.
Congo (Kinshasa): Parliament approves a 94th extension of the state of siege in Ituri and Nord-Kivu, followed by a 95th on April 18.
Georgia: The prime minister of Ajaria, Tornike Rizhvadze, resigns. The central government nominates Sulkhan Tamazashvili as prime minister, who is approved by the local parliament on April 7.
South Korea: The Constitutional Court confirms the Dec. 14, 2024, impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, removing him from office. A new presidential election must be held by June 3. On April 8 it is announced that it will be held on June 3.
5
Western Sahara: Mohamed Yeslem Beissat is appointed foreign minister of the Saharan Arab Democratic Republic.
6
The Gambia: Former foreign minister (1998-2001) Momodou Lamin Sedat Jobe dies.
Japan: In gubernatorial elections in Akita, Kenta Suzuki wins 58.4% of the vote and Kazumi Saruta 40.5%. Turnout is 59.6%. Suzuki takes office April 20.
Nigeria: Former governor of Oyo (1983) Victor Olunloyo dies.
Serbia: President Aleksandar Vucic nominates Djuro Macut as prime minister. On April 14 Macut proposes to parliament a cabinet with no change in the foreign, defense, interior, or finance portfolios. It is confirmed on April 16 (153-46).
8
Congo (Kinshasa): The political consultations begun on March 24 end.
Côte d'Ivoire: Former foreign minister (1990-2000) Amara Essy (also secretary-general of the Organization of African Unity 2001-02 and interim chairman of the Commission of the African Union 2002-03) dies.
Montserrat: Governor Sarah Tucker departs. Deputy Governor Lindorna Sweeney becomes acting governor until April 23, when Harriet Cross is sworn in as governor.
United States: In the mayoral runoff in Saint Louis, Cara Spencer wins 64.2% of the vote and Tishaura O. Jones 35.8%. Spencer is sworn in on April 15.
9
Kazakhstan: Former acting chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Kazakh S.S.R. (1988-89) Vera Sidorova dies.
New Caledonia: Jacques Billant is appointed as high commissioner.
South Sudan: President Salva Kiir dismisses Foreign Minister Ramadan Abdallah Goc and appoints Monday Semaya Kumba as foreign minister.
10
Liechtenstein: Brigitte Haas is elected head of government (18 of 25 votes). She also becomes finance minister in the new government, while Sabine Monauni is foreign minister and Hubert Büchel interior minister.
11
Curaçao: Governor Lucille George-Wout appoints Chester Peterson as formateur.
12
Gabon: In presidential elections, Transitional President Brice Oligui Nguema wins 94.9% of the vote and former prime minister Alain Claude Bilie-By-Nze 3.1%. Turnout is 70.3%.
13
Ecuador: In the presidential runoff, Daniel Noboa wins 55.6% of the vote and Luisa González 44.4%. Turnout is 83.0%.
14
Comoros: A new government is named including Mohamed Ahamada Assoumani as interior minister; Mbae Mohamed remains foreign minister and Ibrahim Mohamed Abdourazak finance minister.
Malaysia: Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, former foreign minister (1991-99) and prime minister (2003-09), dies.
15
Japan: The governor of Wakayama, Shuhei Kishimoto, dies. Deputy Governor Izumi Miyazaki becomes acting governor.
Kosovo: Prime Minister Albin Kurti resigns.
Papua New Guinea: Prime Minister James Marape survives a no-confidence vote in parliament (rejected 89-16).
Russia: Former chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Kalmyk A.S.S.R. (1974-89) Lag Badmakhalgayev dies.
The Sudan: The Rapid Support Forces, controlling significant parts of the country, announce a rival Government of Peace and Unity with Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo as head of the Presidential Council.
16
Ecuador: Sariha Belén Moya is named economy and finance minister.
Switzerland: Norman Gobbi becomes president of the Council of State of Ticino.
17
Indonesia: Hidayat Arsani is inaugurated as governor of Bangka Belitung and John Tabo as governor of Papua Pegunungan.
The Sudan: The chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, Abdel Fattah Burhan, dismisses Foreign Minister Ali Youssef Ahmed al-Sharif and appoints Hussein al-Amin al-Fadil as acting foreign minister. On April 30 Burhan appoints Dafallah Al-Haj Ali as acting prime minister and Omar Siddiq as foreign minister.
20
Serbia: Former chairman of the Vojvodina Provincial Committee of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia (1989-90) Nedeljko Sipovac dies.
21
Malta: Former foreign minister (2012-13) Francis Zammit Dimech dies.
Vatican City: Pope Franciscus dies. The dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Cardinal Re, and the chamberlain, Kevin Cardinal Farrell, are managing affairs during the vacancy.
23
Togo: Former prime minister (1999-2000) Eugène Koffi Adoboli dies.
Tunisia: Former interim president (2011) Fouad Mebazaa dies.
24
Malaysia: Tun Ramli Ngah Talib is appointed yang di-pertua negeri of Penang, effective May 1.
Russia: Sergey Artamonov is approved as prime minister of Chuvashia by the local parliament (38-2).
United States: Former secretary of labor (1997-2001) Alexis Herman dies.
27
Austria: In state elections in Wien, the Social Democratic Party wins 39.4% of the vote (43 of 100 seats), the Freedom Party 20.4% (22), the Greens 14.5% (15), New Austria 10.0% (10), the Austrian People's Party 9.7% (10), and the Communist Party 4.1% (0). Turnout is 62.7%.
Somalia: In a cabinet reshuffle, Abdisalan Abdi Ali is appointed foreign minister, replacing Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, who becomes defense minister.
Switzerland: Roland Dähler is elected Regierender Landammann of Appenzell Innerrhoden.
28
Canada: In parliamentary elections, the Liberal Party wins 43.7% of the vote (169 of 343 seats), the Conservative Party 41.3% (144), the Bloc Québécois 6.3% (22), the New Democratic Party 6.3% (7), and the Green Party 1.3% (1). Turnout is about 69%.
Mauritius: Former foreign minister (1994-95) Ramduthsing Jaddoo dies.
Solomon Islands: Finance Minister Manasseh Sogavare resigns.
Trinidad and Tobago: In parliamentary elections, the United National Congress wins 58.7% of the vote (26 of 41 seats), the People's National Movement 33.7% (13), and the Tobago People's Party 5.4% (2). Turnout is about 54%.
29
Nigeria: Former governor of South-Eastern/Cross River state (1975-78) Paul Omu dies.
30
Cayman Islands: In parliamentary elections, the People's Progressive Movement wins 7 of 19 elected seats, the Cayman Islands National Party 4, the Caymanian Community Party 4, and independents 4. Turnout is 73.6%. (With two ex-officio seats, the total is 21.)
Suriname: Former prime minister (1987-88), vice president (1991), and president (1996-2000) Jules Wijdenbosch dies.